Postal Savings Certificates

I have seen a few series 1917 certificates but not one series 1918. Are the 1918's scarcer for some reason?

I found a 1918 but still wonder if they are scarcer?

Should I assume this series 1917 certificate and the above series 1918 certificate were not redeemed as there is no paid marking?

I was reading that the certificates were issued in duplicate. Were they carbon copies and were they marked copies or were there two similar copies written up? Could some of the unredeemed certificates be post office copies? Have you ever seen a copy?

Yes i'm fascinated and hooked.

The 1918 series is very, very scarce; I'd say the rarest of all. Harry Charles missed the existence of the series when he wrote his book on the postal savings stamps and system. I have five of them in my census (I think including the one posted here, though the scan isn't very clear - I had found it in a Heritage Auction listing from some years ago). Ironically, all of the series 1918 certificates I have seen were issued in the late 1920s or early 1930s. I need to do some research and see if I can find anything in the Postal Bulletin about the series.

On the separate question about redemption, you're right that the 1917 and 1918 certificates shown here are not redeemed - no paid or cancellation marks. The 1917 example wasn't in my census so I'll add that - thanks!

I would very much appreciate if you could give the 1917 census number.

I have records of 69 $1 1917 certificates, including 4 from Michigan (including your recently posted one). There are plenty more out there. The problem with trying to census these things is that I can only spot what comes through ebay or that I otherwise encounter, and they don't come to public auction with any frequency. I do have some data from other collectors that I haven't processed yet, which will increase census counts somewhat.

Reissued are quite rare. I hadn't seen this one before; it would be the 4th reissued 1939 series in my census. I have record of a single reissued 1917, and there is a set of specimens of reissued 1911 certificates.

Reissued

The only series 1954 I have seen is the $200 Puerto Rico. Is the series 1954 scarcer than series 1939? (census)? Were U.S. Savings bonds more in vogue so fewer bought and also a shorter time period of sales?

About the reissued CD. Are there any star notes? oops, star certificates? These certificates are non negotiable so not notes.
Why was this one reissued 10 years later. She lost the original? Was she able to prove ownership because the Post Office had a duplicate? Which brings me back to duplicates. Any info?

The 1954 series is scarcer than 1939 or 1917, easier than 1913, 1911, or 1918. they are few and far between if you exclude the Friedberg hoard of redeemed NY/PR examples. The $1 is particularly scarce because it was eliminated in 1956. The $5 is also quite scarce. The $500, $1000 and $2500 are all scarce despite the Friedberg hoard. In fact, I don't have a $500 in the census (Richard had a few but they sold before I had a chance to get photos of things).

Reissued notes were for lost, damaged, or destroyed certificates. I've never seen an analog to a "star" note in the currency sense.

There are duplicate notes for the 1911 series. (I've only recorded a couple). I have not seen duplicates for any other series.